What is an appropriate age to start Protection training?

dapoet87 · 10-31-2009, 12:32 PM

I am interested in getting bully started in protection training. I have heard different/conflicting opinions from different trainers regarding age. Some say start early as possible. Say wait until 1 yr old or more. What do u think? 

2bully · 10-31-2009, 01:18 PM

All of the training, trainers, and clubs I've been involved in have been of the mind the earlier the better. Waiting to the dog matures to start the training will undoubtedly leave you lots of problems that will need to be corrected. Starting the training at a young age allows you to tailor the way you raise the pup towards your goals rather than fixing problems to attain your goals. Certain aspects of the training come later as the dog matures there's no way around that, but there is nothing wrong with raising up a pup with the goal of protection training. I do suggest you check out the sticky on the top of this forum's page and find a club/trainer to your liking and start working with them.

forever_pit · 11-02-2009, 12:33 AM

I think the earlier you start the better.
I didn't start Dylan until he was like 2.5 years old and I had to go back and re-train a few behaviors.
Gator, on the other hand, came to the club with us when he was 8 weeks old.

**attitude** · 11-02-2009, 08:48 PM

there are 2 different thoughts, or camps, on training. some feel young foundation work is the best way to go. others feel it is best to let the dog mature, especially slow maturing breeds like rotts n bullies, until they are 15-18 months. myself i follow the first philosophy, tho i do understand the second and it works well for those i know that use it i like having solid, none stressfull foundation work in. i like to do stuff from day 1 but the majority starts after the pup is done teething

Lisa · 11-06-2009, 12:44 PM

I think the earlier one starts the better, especially when it comes to novices. If you are interested in this sort of training and are new to it, I feel the best thing to do is find a reputable club as soon as you get the puppy. With the guidance of a training director and other club members you can learn how to properly imprint your dog at home. Most novices unknowingly do things that are counterproductive to bite work training. A club can help you avoid doing those things. A protection/sport prospect is raised much differently than your average pet and it's important to have that knowledge going in or at least have someone available to guide your through the process. Otherwise you will more than likely have problems that you created only to undo later. Could be the owner over corrected the puppy for using its mouth, could be it was given to many things for free without having to work for it, could be that bad grips and targeting were promoted through improper play. The mistakes that can be made are endless.

On the other hand, if a dog "has it" the bite work can come together fairly quickly so waiting won't always cause a problem. Some people will concentrate on bonding along with obedience and tracking (if schutzhund is the sport being trained for) and don't start the bite work until later. That too is fine for a novice (some clubs won't even give you the option of starting bite work until the dog is a year old or so) but again, its the support of a club and trainer that is most important at this stage of the game when it comes to novice handlers.

calden · 11-13-2009, 11:11 PM

I think Lisa said it perfectly - especially if you are a newbie. That was me exactly and I have found the guidance from the club crucial to the speed with which my 9 month old female has developed. If I had not been exposed to that wealth of knowledge I know that I would be trying to train out the mistakes that I would have inevitably made on my own. If you do not have a club available I would do A LOT of reading before you get started with any protection training. You can save yourself and the dog a lot of wasted time in the future if you do some research up front. Good luck with your training goals!!

-Chad

dapoet87 · 11-29-2009, 10:25 AM

Thanks guys for replying. Haven't been logged in in awhile, so sorry for the late reply. I am not going to train him myself, but I am considering 2 diff trainers. One of them is the breeder I purchased him from. They won't start a dog on pp unless he's 18 months. The other is a local who doesn't do shuczundt but I've seen his dogs, n their awesome. He likes to start early.

Btw are there any trainers in the mid TN area hat u guys would recommend??

10-31-2009, 12:32 PM	#1 (permalink)
dapoet87 Member Rookie Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: TN, MS, GA Posts: 56	What is an appropriate age to start Protection training? I am interested in getting bully started in protection training. I have heard different/conflicting opinions from different trainers regarding age. Some say start early as possible. Say wait until 1 yr old or more. What do u think?  __________________

10-31-2009, 01:18 PM	#2 (permalink)
2bully Senior Member Distinguished Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 2,259	All of the training, trainers, and clubs I've been involved in have been of the mind the earlier the better. Waiting to the dog matures to start the training will undoubtedly leave you lots of problems that will need to be corrected. Starting the training at a young age allows you to tailor the way you raise the pup towards your goals rather than fixing problems to attain your goals. Certain aspects of the training come later as the dog matures there's no way around that, but there is nothing wrong with raising up a pup with the goal of protection training. I do suggest you check out the sticky on the top of this forum's page and find a club/trainer to your liking and start working with them. __________________ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IlSth5FZRA Juggernaut CGC, TT http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uECwahxlvBU Garnet CGC http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pp-__...eature=channel Comanche

11-02-2009, 08:48 PM	#4 (permalink)
attitude Agent Squint Distinguished Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: on the edge of insanity Posts: 4,900	there are 2 different thoughts, or camps, on training. some feel young foundation work is the best way to go. others feel it is best to let the dog mature, especially slow maturing breeds like rotts n bullies, until they are 15-18 months. myself i follow the first philosophy, tho i do understand the second and it works well for those i know that use it i like having solid, none stressfull foundation work in. i like to do stuff from day 1 but the majority starts after the pup is done teething __________________

11-06-2009, 12:44 PM	#5 (permalink)
Lisa Senior Member Distinguished Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 7,412	I think the earlier one starts the better, especially when it comes to novices. If you are interested in this sort of training and are new to it, I feel the best thing to do is find a reputable club as soon as you get the puppy. With the guidance of a training director and other club members you can learn how to properly imprint your dog at home. Most novices unknowingly do things that are counterproductive to bite work training. A club can help you avoid doing those things. A protection/sport prospect is raised much differently than your average pet and it's important to have that knowledge going in or at least have someone available to guide your through the process. Otherwise you will more than likely have problems that you created only to undo later. Could be the owner over corrected the puppy for using its mouth, could be it was given to many things for free without having to work for it, could be that bad grips and targeting were promoted through improper play. The mistakes that can be made are endless. On the other hand, if a dog "has it" the bite work can come together fairly quickly so waiting won't always cause a problem. Some people will concentrate on bonding along with obedience and tracking (if schutzhund is the sport being trained for) and don't start the bite work until later. That too is fine for a novice (some clubs won't even give you the option of starting bite work until the dog is a year old or so) but again, its the support of a club and trainer that is most important at this stage of the game when it comes to novice handlers. __________________ A GOOD dog is not that easily ruined. http://b2.boards2go.com/boards/board.cgi?&user=Frabo

11-29-2009, 10:25 AM	#7 (permalink)
dapoet87 Member Rookie Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: TN, MS, GA Posts: 56	Thanks guys for replying. Haven't been logged in in awhile, so sorry for the late reply. I am not going to train him myself, but I am considering 2 diff trainers. One of them is the breeder I purchased him from. They won't start a dog on pp unless he's 18 months. The other is a local who doesn't do shuczundt but I've seen his dogs, n their awesome. He likes to start early. Btw are there any trainers in the mid TN area hat u guys would recommend?? __________________

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11-02-2009, 12:33 AM	#3 (permalink)
forever_pit Senior Member Distinguished Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: SE FL Posts: 5,440	I think the earlier you start the better. I didn't start Dylan until he was like 2.5 years old and I had to go back and re-train a few behaviors. Gator, on the other hand, came to the club with us when he was 8 weeks old.

11-13-2009, 11:11 PM	#6 (permalink)
calden Member Rookie Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 34	I think Lisa said it perfectly - especially if you are a newbie. That was me exactly and I have found the guidance from the club crucial to the speed with which my 9 month old female has developed. If I had not been exposed to that wealth of knowledge I know that I would be trying to train out the mistakes that I would have inevitably made on my own. If you do not have a club available I would do A LOT of reading before you get started with any protection training. You can save yourself and the dog a lot of wasted time in the future if you do some research up front. Good luck with your training goals!! -Chad